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Pump having independently releasable endsRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, Expansible Chamber Type, Fluid Serially Moved To Opposite Side Of Pumping MemberPump having independently releasable ends description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060188380, Pump having independently releasable ends. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] The present technique relates generally to pumping systems and, more specifically, to systems and methods for assembling and disassembling a pump. [0002] Existing pumps, such as polyester resin pumps, have a plurality of annular sections that are integrally coupled together, such that the individual sections are not individually accessible for servicing, maintenance, repair, and so forth. For example, one typical pump includes a plurality of tie rods extending along the length of the pump, such that the tie rods secure all annular sections of the pump together in an integral manner. Unfortunately, this integral assembly of the pump prevents independent release and access of the individual sections of the pump. [0003] Similarly, another typical pump includes a plurality of threaded annular sections that are threaded together at different positions along the length of the pump, such that the individual sections of the pump are not independently releasable and accessible when installed in a particular pumping system. In other words, the individual sections must be rotated with respect to one another during assembly or disassembly. Unfortunately, this rotational movement between the individual sections cannot be performed while the pump is installed within a system, because various pipes and mounting structures are coupled to the body of the pump. As a result, the entire pump must be removed from the particular pumping system to gain access to the various sections of the pump. [0004] The forgoing and other existing pumps are so integrally coupled together and integrally coupled within the particular pumping system that access and servicing requires complete removal of the pump and/or complete disassembly of the pump. Therefore, the existing pumps are not amenable to independent at release, access, servicing, and repair of individual sections of the respective pump. [0005] For these reasons, a technique is needed for independently releasing various sections of a pump, such that these sections can be independently accessed, serviced, and repaired. BRIEF DESCRIPTION [0006] In certain embodiments, a pump includes a first end section having a fluid inlet and a fluid intake valve, a second end section having a fluid outlet, and a midsection disposed between the first and second end sections, wherein the midsection includes a piston coupled to a drive member. The pump also includes a first set of bolts coupling the first end section to the midsection, and a second set of bolts coupling the second end section to the midsection, wherein the first and second end sections are independently releasable from the midsection via the first and second sets of bolts, respectively. DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pumping system having a primary pump and a secondary pump coupled to a motor via a drive section in accordance with embodiments of the present technique; [0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the pumping system illustrated in FIG. 1; [0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the primary pump illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; [0010] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the primary pump illustrated in FIG. 3 in accordance with embodiments of the present technique; and [0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the primary pump illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 in accordance with embodiments of the present technique. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary pumping system 10 having a primary pump 12 coupled to a motor 14 via a transmission or drive section 16 in accordance with embodiments of the present technique. In addition, the illustrated pumping system 10 includes a secondary pump 18 coupled to the motor 14 via the transmission or drive section 16. As discussed in further detail below, the primary pump 12 includes a plurality of sections, such as a midsection 20 and opposite end sections 22 and 24, which end sections 22 and 24 are independently releasable via respective bolts 26 and 28. [0013] These bolts 26 and 28 are independent from one another and, also, enable the sections 20, 22, and 24 to remain in a stationary position during assembly or disassembly. In other words, the midsection 20, or the end section 22, or the end section 24, or a combination thereof may remain coupled together, or coupled to a chassis or fluid conduits, while the bolts 26 and/or bolts 28 are installed or removed from the primary pump 12. For example, the end section 22 can be removed from the midsection 20 while the end section 24 remains coupled to the midsection 20 or, alternatively, the end section 24 can be removed from the midsection 20 while the end section 22 remains coupled to the midsection 20. Accordingly, various wearable and replaceable components, such as seals, guides, valves, pistons, and rings, can be selectively accessed by independently removing either one of the end sections 22 or 24. For these reasons, a service technician does not need to completely remove the primary pump 12 from the pumping system 10, nor does the technician need to completely disassemble the pump 12 when access is desired only in one end or the other of the pump 12. [0014] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pumping system 10 includes an enclosure or chassis 30 that supports the motor 14, the primary and secondary pumps 12 and 18, and the intermediate transmission or drive section 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor 14 is an air powered motor having an air inlet 32 that connects with an air outlet 34 of an air control assembly 36. The illustrated air control assembly 36 includes an air inlet 38 that connects with a remote or independent air supply. The air control assembly 36 also includes a pressure regulator 40 and an air valve 42 disposed between the air outlet 34 and the air inlet 38 to control the pressure and flow of the air through the air control assembly 36. The air control assembly 36 also includes a gauge 44 to indicate an air pressure flowing through the assembly 36 to the air inlet 32 of the motor 14. However, the air control assembly 36 and the motor 14 may be replaced with a variety of other motors and control assemblies, such as a gas powered motor, a hydraulic motor, an electric motor, electronic control circuits, software-based control interfaces, computers, and various electromechanical drives and control assemblies. [0015] The illustrated transmission or drive section 16 transfers and/or converts a reciprocating motion, e.g., a linear reciprocating motion, by the motor 14 to the primary and secondary pumps 12 and 18. As illustrated, the enclosure or chassis 30 supports the primary pump 12 in a fixed position below the chassis 30 via a plurality of beams or support members 46. In a region between the enclosure or chassis 30 and the primary pump 12, the transmission or drive section 16 includes a pump drive rod 48, which reciprocally moves in an upward and downward linear motion as driven by the adjacent motor 14. This upward and downward reciprocal motion, in turn, drives internal pumping mechanisms within the primary pump 12, as discussed in further detail below. At the top end of the primary pump 12, the internal pumping mechanisms are coupled to the pump drive rod 48 via a nut 50. [0016] In addition, the primary pump 12 includes a fluid cup 52 in the sealing region between the pump drive rod 48 and the internal pumping mechanisms. In certain embodiments, this fluid cup 52 retains a fluid, such as a solvent compatible with the fluid being pumped by the primary pump 12, to maintain wetness and reliability of the seals in that region. In addition, the fluid cup 52 may function to capture fluids leaking from the primary pump 12 in the sealing region between the pump drive rod 48 and the internal pumping mechanisms of the primary pump 12. In operation, the primary pump 12 intakes a fluid, such as a polyester resin, at a primary fluid inlet 54 and pumps the fluid outward through a primary fluid outlet 56, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Other working fluids may include gel coat, paint, oil or solvent, water, or abrasive slurries, or a variety of coating materials. Depending on the particular application and working fluid(s), the primary and second pumps 12 and 18 may comprise a variety of pumping types and configurations. [0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of the pumping system 10 illustrating a primary reciprocating motion 58 of the pump drive rod 48, which conveys a secondary reciprocating motion 60 to the secondary pump 18 via a slave arm 62 of the transmission or drive section 16 in accordance with embodiments of the present technique. As illustrated, the pump drive rod 48 directly transmits the primary reciprocation motion 58 in a generally linear manner from the motor 14 to the primary pump 12. [0018] In turn, the pump drive rod 48 moves the slave arm 62 in the primary reciprocating motion 58 at a first pivot joint 64. In response to this movement at the first pivot joint 64, the slave arm 62 also pivots about a second pivot joint 66 at an opposite end from the first pivot joint 64. At an intermediate position between the first and second pivot joints 64 and 66, the slave arm 62 has a third pivot joint 68 coupled to a moveable drive member 70 of the secondary pump 18 via a retaining clip 72. In the illustrated embodiment, the slave arm 62 rotates about the first and second pivot joint 64 and 66 in a curved reciprocating motion, such that the slave arm 62 conveys only a portion (i.e., motion 60) of the primary reciprocating motion 58 to the moveable drive member 70. However, alternate embodiments of the transmission or drive section 18 and the slave arm 62 may convey equal or greater amounts (i.e., motion 60) of the primary reciprocating motion 58 to the secondary pump 18. At the opposite end from the slave arm 62, the secondary pump 18 is coupled to a portion of the enclosure or chassis 30 via a fourth pivot joint 74 and associated clip retainer 76. [0019] In operation, the secondary reciprocating motion 60 drives the moveable drive member 70 inward and outward from the secondary pump 18, thereby drawing fluid in through a secondary fluid inlet 78 and pumping the fluid outward from a secondary fluid outlet 80. For example, in certain embodiments, the secondary pump 18 may transfer a catalyst for a polyester resin being pumped through the primary pump 12. In other embodiments, the primary and secondary pumps 12 and 18 may convey other fluids that are mixed together for a particular application, such as paint and other desired materials. [0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the primary pump 12 illustrating various components of the end sections 22 and 24 coupled to the midsection 20 via the bolts 26 and 28, respectively. In certain embodiments, these bolts 26 and 28 may be replaced or supplemented with a variety of other fasteners, such as a latching member having a cam mechanism, a leveraging member, or another mechanism to compress the adjacent sections together without rotating the sections 20, 22, and 24 with respect to one another. In other words, the bolts 26 and 28 or various other fasteners may be used to assembly and disassembly the sections 20, 22, and 24 by a motion oriented along the length or longitudinal axis of the primary pump 12. Again, this lengthwise and/or axial motion of the fasteners, e.g., bolts 26 and 28, enables the primary pump 12 and its various sections 20, 22, and/or 24 to remain in place (with respect to one another and/or with respect to the chassis 30) during assembly and disassembly. Continue reading about Pump having independently releasable ends... Full patent description for Pump having independently releasable ends Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Pump having independently releasable ends patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Pump having independently releasable ends or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Apparatus and method of balancing a shaft Next Patent Application: Seal assembly for hydraulic pump output shaft Industry Class: Pumps ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Pump having independently releasable ends patent info. 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